An Elkhorn, Nebraska native, Long stands at 6-foot-4.5, weighs 320 pounds and put up 28 reps on the bench during his pro day. He did not do any drills because he is still recovering from a knee injury that prematurely ended his senior season. A former walk-on, he was a Cornhuskers team captain in 2013, started 33 games over three seasons and was a 2012 First-Team All-Big Ten selection. Long is a biological sciences major and a five-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll Recipient and four-time Big 12 Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll member.

Long has a big, squatty build and is a good athlete who showed impressive movement skills and the ability to pull, block in space and eliminate a target in one-on-one situations. He was projected as a mid-round pick prior to his injury.